Valve and seat for pressure regulators and method of making the same



Oct.- 19 1926. 1,603,747

T. COLES VALVE AND SEAT FOR PRESSURE REGULATORS AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Feb, 16, 1926 In uen'l'or:

\ 2 6' I Thomas Gales,

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, My present invention relates to a reducing valve such as is used with high pressure gas containers designed to regulate pressure and control the volume of gases or fluids used'to feed the combustion flame of a blow pipe or torch employed in the cutting or welding of metals.

While the invention is particularly applicable to the above use, yet obviously it Hi may be used with any style of regulator as applied to high pressure gas containers for regulating the flow therefrom.

are to provide a reducing valve which will maintain true alignment of the valve stem with the valve seat, to obtain accurate seating of the valve, to provide a construction which will prevent fracturing, 'spawling or crushing of the valve stem and of the valve seat, to prevent leaking or creeping through fractures or defects in the valve members of surplus volume and excess pressures of the gases under use, and to prevent dangerous explosions in the regulator arising from os- F sible sparks being generated through riction of the gas under high pressure in passing over-,through or along the valve members in the regulator when the---regulator is used with combustible a'ses,,such as oxygen. Further objects and advantages will be developed as the description proceeds and with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. i l In the drawings l have illustrated a preferred form of my invention, although obcally thereto. l

i In thedrawi-ngs: a Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a regulator constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is'a composite view of the vlave.

Fig. 3 is a composite view of the valve viously I do not wish to be limited specifi- Fig. 4 is a similar view of the diaphra chamber 3 into the upperchainber 2. 1

The body 1 has atits base a lower hub 4 which extends upwardly to form an upper hub 5 within the upper chamber 2. The hubs are axially cored and internally threaded to receive other parts of the regulator, as will be more fully described here-- inaifter. It is to be noted that the lower chamber 3 is formed in the axial bore ot' the hub parts. ea

The body 1 is provided with an outlet 6 through which the low working pressure h gas flows ,to the blow torch or other device. The particular objects of the invention A. valve seat bushing 7 externally threaded to screw into the upper hub 5 is axially bored to freely receive the helical valve-spring 8 and the guide nut 9. The lower ortion oi the valve seat bushing 7 is provided with a lower extension constituting a guide sleeve 10 which freely receives the head 11 of the 7 valve stem 12 and acts as a guide therefor. Above the downwardly extending guide sleeve 10 is a ledge or shoulder 13 upon which the helical valve spring 8 rests. The under side or the shoulder. 13 constitutes a valve 'seat 14: constituting faces 15 and 16. The

axial bore of the valve seat bushing 7 provides a tree passageway for the valve stem 12.

The bushing? is flanged at its top in preterably a hexagonal manner, as indicated at 35 17, so as to permit the same to beengaged by a wrench in case it is desired to tighten up or "remove the bushing. A fiber gasket 18 rests upon that part of the bushing 7 surrounding the upper part of the extension so guide sleeve oint. 4 y

I The guide nut 9 is axially bored and in-'' ternally threaded to receive the externally threadedtop end of the valve stem 12, said as nut 9 extending into the axial aperture in 10 and serves to make a tight the valve seat bushing 7 and acting as a guide for the valye stem 12. The lower portion of the guide nut 9 engages with re uired tension the helical valve spring 8 an this 10.0

tension may be'increased -or decreased by a proper rotation of the nut 9. The nut 9 is fluted on its periphery as at 19 to permit free flow of gas therethrough from theaperture in the valve seat bushing f? to the up 1:05

per ehamber 2. The valve stem head 11 is likewise fluted as at 20 on its outer periphery to permit the tree flow of gas therethrough from the lower Mo A dia hragin nut 21 having aflange 22 thereon aving an irregular, periphery soas to be en aged by the jaws of a wrench is provided, t e upper end of which is externally threaded as at 23 to screw into a threaded hole in the center of a diaphragm 24 and thence into a similarly threaded aperture in the center of the diaphragm plate 25. The lower portion of the nut 21 is of a diameter equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the guide nut 9 and is fluted as at 26 to correspond with the channels 19 in the nut 9. The diaphragm nut 21 is likewise provided with a screw threaded axial aperture adapted to receive the threaded top of the valve stem 12 and to engage the top of the guide nut 9 with the jam nut effect.

The diaphragm 24 may be of any satisfactory material, such as a high grade of diaphragm rubber, although preferably ll make this element of German silver and phosphor bronze. This diaphragm rests upon the upper circular rim of the body 1 and is secured thereto by first placing thereon a thin brass washerfor the purpose of taking up the friction or twisting strain, and then screwing down the cap 27 over the rim of the body 1 whereby its shoulder 28 meets the rim of the diaphragm and is then screwed down firmly thereon.

The upper circular rim of the body 1 is of slightly greater diameter than the remainder of the body and than that of the diaphragm 24, and is externally threaded to receive the diaphragm hood or cap 27.

This cap 27 is provided with an inner shoulder 28 adapted to rest u on the outer rim of the diaphragm 24, an is also provided with an upper chamber 29 of sufficient inner diameterto freely receive the main compression spring 30. I v

The compression spring 30 rests upon the diaphragm plate 25 and supports at its upper end a button 31 partially extending within the spring and which has a depressed upper portion adapted to receive the pointed lower end of the compression key 32 which may be provided with a wheel 33 or other convenient member for rotating the same.

The valve head 12 comprises two frustoconical portions forming faces 34 and 35, the face 34 making an angle of'approximately 70 with a horizontal line through its base and the face 35 making an angle of approximately 24? with a horizontal line passing through its base. It is to be noted that the faces 15Iand 16 of the valve seat likewise form in effect two frusto-conical surfaces, the face '16 making an angle of approximately 7Q with a horizontal line passing through its base, which is approximately the same as the face 34 of the stem with which it engages, while the face 15 of the valve stem makes approximately an angle of 18 with a horizontal line passin through its base, or an angle sl'ghtly less than the angle body 1. A coupling nut 36 is adapted to be secured to the outlet from the pressure c011- tainer and the gas finds its way through an axial aperture40 in the nipple 39 to the regulator proper.

It will be noted from the use of this'construction that the valve stem and head with its faces are held and maintained in true alignment within-the ValXG seat bushing 17 and in relation to the corresponding faces of the valve seat: first, by reason OftllB fact that the upper end of the valve stem 11 is screwed through the center of the guide nut 9, which nut acts closely but freely within the upper portion of the axial aperture -within the valve seat bushing 7; second, by

reason of the fact that the valve head acts closely but freely within the guide sleeve 10 so that any irregular resiliency or contortion .of the diaphragm 24 cannot throw the valve stem off center or cause imperfect seating This tends to maingas constant both in volume of the regulator valve. tain the flow of and in pressure.

The area of the face 16 011 the valve seat being small and limited with its large angle as a relatively small bearing surface in contact with the corresponding face 34 of the valve head, the fact that the face 16 of the valve seat is of relatively small area and acting upon a correspondingly angled seat of much larger area, assures these two faces in making contact, even though the valve head or the valve seat are subjected to wear.

The acute angled faces 35 and 15 on the head and seat respectively insure constant uniform and positive reseating, even when the valve is subjected to wear, and thereby prevent fracturing and spawling of the valve members.

The fact that the valve head closes in the direction of flow of the high pressure gas and that the area of the bottom of the valve head is much greater than the actual seating surface of the valve, causes a constant tendency to reseat itself and thereby prevents the risk of explosions through the creepin up of gas pressure on the low pressure side of the gas regulator.

I have found that it is extremely desirable to make both valve head and seat of a material which will'neither fracture, crack or spawl under the tremendous pressures usual ly obtaining, which will not allow foreign substances in the gas to adhere, which will incaraa will not spark or strike fire by reason of the friction caused by the high pressure gas, such as oxygen, which would result in disastrous explosion.

As the most eficient work in welding or cutting metals by means of, for instance, an oxyacetylene flame, is done where the gas is maintained on the low pressure side at pressures say from 200 to 250 pounds per 'li square inch, it is absolutely essential that a valve head and seat be rovided which will not allow this tremen ous pressure to leak and which will not have the defects abovev noted.

l have found that a valve stem head as used in such regulators may advantageously be made of an alloy which will possess relatively non-sparking and substantially fibrous properties, and a tensile strength of 20' at least 85,000 pounds per square inch, to consist preferably of an alloy comprising approximately 72% nickel, 1.5% iron and 26.5% copper, rolled, forged'at at least 1550 ll, then immediately air cooled by the use of 3 a cold aircurrentto produce the suficiently annealed quality which imparts to the alloy the required fibrous property. l have found that a suitable valve seat for use in combination with the above described valve stem and head may consist of a non-sparking,

non-corrosive, high density alloy having a tensile strength of at least 260,000 pounds per square inch, and comprising preferably approximately 75% copperan 25% zinc, alloyed and treated in a bath of molten hard solder in order to increase its density, so as to prevent gases at pressures of 1,800 pounds or more; per square inch from creeping through the material thereof. Such hard solder may comprise two parts tin and one part lead with a; melting point of about 200, which proportions may be increased up to one part tin and three parts lead with a which is not desirable till thattensile strength, non-corrosive and non-v tlll comprising melting point-of about 500.

While I have given the preferred composition of the alloy used for the valve head and valve seat, l have found that any proportions between the preferred example and one consisting of 60.59% nickel, 2.09% iron and 30.24% I coppier may be fused. The alloy is e last proportions has a prommately the same tensile strength as t e preferred embodiment; but has increased duetility, which is not desirable. By changing the proportions in the same relation on the 1S 7 produced wit increased elasticity but approaches a brittle or crystalline structure,

\ However, as it is extremely important firing propertiesbe maintained, the questionof elasticity or ductility matters little, as long asit ddes not go too far up or'down,

As to the seat composition, it is not neces" sary to hold exactly to the proportions above given, but, as the proportionv of zinc is increased the malleability vis decreased and brittleness and coarseness of structure is produced, which is not desirable. Similarly, the addition of tin or lead to the mixture impairs the tenacity of the metal.

The operation of the device is as follows: he coupling nut 36 having been attached to the pressure container from which the supply of gas is to be taken and the gas turned on, at this point it will be apparent that the valve head 11 will seat if the pressure of the main compression spring 30 is less than the pressure of the gas and there fore there will be no flow of gas from the exit or outlet 6. In order to produoea' flow of gas through the outlet, it now only becomes necessary to compress the spring 30 until the pressure of the as in the chamber 3 has been overcome, so t at the diaphragm and its attached parts, valve stem and head, will move downwardly, thus allowing the gas in the hi h pressure chamber 3 to escape through t e valve stem opening through the guide nut 9 and out of the exit 6 to the work.

ll claim: 1 1. In a valve of hi pressure gas regulators, a valve seat member comprising an alloy consisting substantially of 75% copper and 25% hard solder in order to increase possessing dense, properties sucient to resist fracturing and crushing of the seat. member, to prevent leaking through of surplus volume and excess ressure of the ases under use. 2; a the valve of igh pressure as regulators, a valve stem and head mem er comprising an alloy of 72% nickel, 1.5% iron its density,

and 26.5% copper rolled, for-girl, and anrous propwhich includes the zinc treated in a bath of molten high tensile and s arkless too order to increase its density, possessing dense, high'tensile and sparkless properties, and

suficient in combined use to resist cracking, fracturing, crushing and spawl- .ing of the members, to prevent, leaking through of surplus volume and excess pressure of the gases under use.

3. In the valve of high pressure gas regu lators, a valve seat member comprising an alloy consisting substantially of 75% copper and 25%1zincftreated in a bath of molten hard; solder in order to increase its density, possessing substantially higher tensile strength than the material of the valve stem and high tensile, and sparkless properties sufi- 'cient to resist fracturing and crushing of the cad member and having dense,-

seat member, to prevent leaking through of surplus volume and excess pressure of the gases under use.

4. In the valve of high pressure gas regulators, a valve seat member comprising an alloy consisting substantially of 75% copper; and zinc treated in a bath of molten hard solder'in order to increase its density, possessing tensile strength at least two and a half times greater than .the tensile strength of the valve stem and head member and having dense, high tensile and sparkless properties suflicient to resist fracturing and crushing of the seat member, to prevent leaking through of surplus volume and excess pressure of the gases under use.

5. A method of making valve heads and stems for high pressure gas regulators which comprises alloying nickel, iron and copper, rolling the alloy, forging the same at 1550 F then immediately air cooling the forging by the use of a cold air current so as to anneal the same.

6. A method of making valve seats for high pressure gas regulators which comprises alloying oopper and zinc, forming therefrom a valve seat member and forming valve seats thereon by applying to said member a coating of an alloy of tin and lead. 1

7. A method of making valve seats for high pressure gas regulators which comprises alloying 75% copper and 25% zinc, forming from said alloy a valve seat member and forming a valve seat thereon by applying thereto hard solder.

8. A valve stem and head for high pressure gas regulators having a tensile strength of at least 85,000 pounds per square inch.

9. A valve seat for high pressure gas regulators having a tensile strength of at least 260,000 pounds per squareinch.

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signature.

THOMAS COLES.

All) 

